RENDANG RITUAL PAYS OFF

Mika credits regular pre-match meal for his 4 goals in C Div floorball final win

- Lin Tianbao

Since scoring a hat-trick after eating rendang, Victoria School floorballer Mika Rendyno has made the Indonesian spicy meat dish from his school canteen his customary pre-match meal.

That treble in their 13-0 National School Games win over Kent Ridge Secondary School on Aug 6 merely whetted his appetite for more on the court.

Ahead of the C Division boys' final on Aug 28, he repeated his prematch tradition, except that he added an egg, as he scored four goals in a 10-4 victory over St Joseph's Institution at Our Tampines Hub.

The 14-year-old, who loves spicy meals, quipped: "It's my favourite food, and this time, I added a little twist with an egg, together with the rendang, and I scored four." Teammate Jethro Ong also netted four times, with Ammar Lutfi Shabarie and Asy-Syahir Kadir chipping in as VS clinched a third consecutive C boys' title.

Coach Jatin Nair was impressed with Mika's four-goal contribution.

He had switched Mika's position from centre to defender this season as he wanted the boy to play in a deeper position "to facilitate a more progressive game".